
Iran Mobilizes for Prolonged Resistance as US-Israeli War Pummels Infrastructure
Key Takeaways
- Conflict could escalate into a broader, prolonged regional war.
- Experts question U.S. readiness and strategy in confronting Iran.
- Trump's foreign policy principles criticized; post-conflict plan lacking.
Strategic Vacuum Emerges
The strikes killed most of Iran's top leadership and inaugurated a war with undefined goals.
Washington had not yet defined a day-after strategy for Iran.

Trump’s approach relied on the hope that the Iranian people would rise up and overthrow the regime.
All lawmakers opposed deploying American ground forces.
Trump told the Daily Mail the operation could last about four weeks.
Military Escalation and Loss of Air Superiority
Iran shot down two American fighter jets and wounded a Black Hawk helicopter.
The first aircraft fell on Iranian soil, and rescuing its pilot has been impossible.

This ended the reality of American air superiority.
The Pentagon confirmed two F-15s down.
International Reactions and Congressional Scrutiny
The Atlantic Council described the campaign as a high-risk gamble with unclear objectives.
“Victor Shalhoub Suddenly, the mood in Washington regarding the confrontation with Iran shifted from gray to grim on Friday”
The Council on Foreign Relations stated this was a major shift to pursuing regime change.
Congressional Democrats demanded emergency briefings on the constitutional basis for strikes.
The diplomatic track proceeded in parallel with military threats.
Energy Shock and Regional Economic Impact
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatened 20% of global oil shipments.
Rising fuel prices could push Washington to consider ending the war soon.
Trump downplayed the economic fallout.
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